Geelong homeless charity seeks to double capacity

A PLANNED expansion of the Lazarus Community Centre in Geelong is about to take an important step forward as the charity prepares to lodge planning documents in coming months for its proposed new home.

The provider of shelter and services to homeless people will remain at its old Geelong jail location but renovate an outbuilding at the site, in a move general manager Jade Hamilton said will greatly increase the number of people it can help.

“We’re averaging between 40-50 a day now, and if we are successful in raising the money for a second social worker, I think we’ll be able to double that number,” she said.

“We’ve only two paid employees and right now I’m the only trained social worker, alongside a community services worker, but it’s likely we’ll need to employ another two people.”

To do so, the organisation is striving to connect with more of the city’s business community, community groups and other organisations to help raise awareness about the growing number of people needing services such as Lazarus.

“Basically what we are trying to encourage is 100 local businesses to donate $100 – that’s tax deductable – every month,” Ms Hamilton said.

“We’re trying to set ourselves up for a long-term financial situation as we are seeing such a large growth of numbers through our door.”

The charity, which does not get government funding, largely survives off grants, but with expansion costs and the need for more employees on the horizon, the organisation’s eight-member board is aware of the need for greater funding stability.

“We have between 25 and 35 businesses on board and couple of one-off donations, so word is getting out there,” Ms Hamilton said of the $100 from 100 campaign.

“And we have recently recruited another three board members so with their help and business connections we’re confident we will make our target.”

The campaign launched in early December and will remain ongoing until the charity is confident of being able to meet its most pressing needs. However, Ms Hamilton said if more organisations came to Lazarus’ aid, the more it couls do to help others.

“I often hear our board members say that $100 a month tax-deductible for business is not a lot of money, but for us it can go to our phone bill, or gas or electricity, it’ll be a massive difference.

“The money we get from the campaign we’ll be able to distribute to the miscellaneous stuff, the meals and other support we provide, and it will allow us to boost nutrition because – as we all know – eating healthy is very expensive.”

For more information, head to lazaruscommunitycentre.com.au